After our eventful Sunday, Erica and I made it to Joplin on Monday. I don’t even know that I have words to describe what we saw and experienced. So I’m going to let pictures do the job.
And I’m going to ask you to help. I have about 1500 bloggy friends and over 3000 Facebook friends. Do you know if 100 of us gave just $10 each, we’d give $1000 altogether. Or if 200 of us gave just $10 each, it would be $2000. What a difference it can make when we link arms in some way.
We worked through Grace Baptist Church in Joplin. Let me tell you that this church has relief efforts very well organized. It was impressive. Erica and I worked on clearing debris out of two yards yesterday. One was for an older lady living alone and the other was a family living in a shelter.
I had the chance to talk with Pastor Fred Vogel at the end of the day and when I asked him what they needed more than anything, he said cash and people. Cash helps them purchase used vehicles for people whose cars no longer exist. Cash buys construction materials for families who were uninsured or underinsured. People make the repairs. People clean up yards. People help salvage the few remaining items a homeowner might have.
The devastation is overwhelming, but the churches are chipping away at it to the best of their availability. If you’re interested in being a volunteer, you can find info HERE. If you’re willing to link arms with a financial donation, you can do that safely online HERE.
We are headed there this week as well – hoping to help a little – it really feels so minor but it was how we wanted to spend our vacation this summer. What a great post – now I’m even more antsy to get there!!
Becky, Every bit of help makes a difference! Thank you for choosing to use your vacation in that way!
Jill,
Wow !! We just came home from their too – it was a surreal experience! I also would encourage any college students or families with a week to give the gift of ‘presence’ to the people of Joplin. They need an ear to listen, words of prayer and encouragement and strong hands and willing hearts to work. We worked through Grace also and Jesse did a great job organizing the to do list and there are so many jobs to do, some physical and some spiritual.
I think what impacted me the most was after I got home one of the lady’s we helped friended me on FB and I saw what her house used to look like. It was two story sweet older home, seemingly a very cozy home and looked very sturdy. What we saw, what was left of it, was a implosion into the basement with every thing they owned in pieces. Their big tree from the original picture, completely gone. THAT is what hit me in the face. However, this town of destruction, in a short period of time, will be one of restoration with the great American spirit through neighbors from near and far!
Yes Emily! I agree!
Emily…. you have no idea how close you were from spending a couple nights with Jill & her daughter Erica. 🙂
Merely one week & one bad car experience separated you…
Thank you so much Jill for your help here & what you’re doing to help raise awareness!
Thanks, Jill. Happily wrote a check, which I probably wouldn’t have if not for this post. God bless you, too.
Thank you very much, Diane.